Abstract: A pedal harp has an upper harp frame which is the pillar and neck parts made as a single piece and a lower harp frame which is the soundbox and soundboard and soundbox parts made as a single piece. The upper harp frame, lower harp frame, faceplates and pedal box are made from a carbon fiber material. This provides lighter weight for the pedal harp, and a stronger, more durable construction.

Abstract: Sound boards having an elongate, approximately trapezoid shape, provided on the front face with a central longitudinal profiled string-carrier member and on the reverse side with a central profiled reinforcing member or beam, and with two side profiled members or sound bars, symmetrically disposed with respect to the reinforcing beam are provided. In such sound boards the cross-section of the reinforcing beam has a central portion with an increased height or thickness and two adjacent, symmetrical side portions or wings having a height or thickness which tapers gradually towards the outside through a concave arcuate profile up to a predetermined minimum value.

Abstract: Sound chests having a sound board connected to a hollow body which includes a bearing structure to which there is connected an outer shell are provided. In such sound chests the bearing structure includes a bottom wall or chest-bottom, and a top member or upper block, a central longitudinal batten or backboard, and two side battens or planks, which extend between the chest-bottom and the upper block, remote from and close to the sound board, respectively; and a plurality of longitudinally staggered, transverse stiffening members or bridges each of which is connected centrally to the backboard with its ends connected to the side planks. Methods for making such sound chests are also provided.

Abstract: Sound chests having a sound board connected to a hollow body which includes a bearing structure to which there is connected an outer shell are provided. In such sound chests the bearing structure includes a bottom wall or chest-bottom, and a top member or upper block, a central longitudinal batten or backboard, and two side battens or planks, which extend between the chest-bottom and the upper block, remote from and close to the sound board, respectively; and a plurality of longitudinally staggered, transverse stiffening members or bridges each of which is connected centrally to the backboard with its ends connected to the side planks. Methods for making such sound chests are also provided.

Abstract: Sound boards having an elongate, approximately trapezoid shape, provided on the front face with a central longitudinal profiled string-carrier member and on the reverse side with a central profiled reinforcing member or beam, and with two side profiled members or sound bars, symmetrically disposed with respect to the reinforcing beam are provided. In such sound boards the cross-section of the reinforcing beam has a central portion with an increased height or thickness and two adjacent, symmetrical side portions or wings having a height or thickness which tapers gradually towards the outside through a concave arcuate profile up to a predetermined minimum value.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates to novel soundboard apparatus for stringed musical instruments. Specifically, the present subject matter teaches an apparatus capable of enhanced phonetic quality, improving the phonetic consistency of a stringed musical instrument, and enhancing resonance in a stringed musical instrument, all while reducing construction cost and reducing the cumbersome size associated with similarly stringed musical instruments.

Abstract: A soundbox (10) for a musical instrument including a panel (14) having an interior surface (22), two longitudinal edges (16) extending along the periphery of the panel (14), and upper (18) and lower (20) edges lateral to the longitudinal edges (16). The panel (14) also includes a plurality of longitudinal grooves (30 and 31) formed on the interior surface (22) of the panel (14) and of a depth extending along edges (16) and extending through a majority of the thickness of the panel (14). The panel (14) is foldable about the longitudinal grooves (30 and 31) to define a three-dimensional rectilinear shape forming the soundbox (10). A cap (52) is positioned at the upper edge (18) and a base (54) is positioned at the lower edge (20), and truss rods (64A and 64B) extend between the cap and base to assemble the components and increase the strength of the soundbox.

Abstract: A soundboard for a hollow-body stringed instrument made of layers of carbon-fiber and resin material surrounding a core of one or more layers of constant-thickness plywood, veneer (thinly sliced wood) or paper. Additional shaped layers are provided to produce a desired pattern of stiffness in the soundboard. The soundboard may be tuned by attaching additional masses to a surface of the soundboard. A method of making and tuning the soundboard of the invention is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for generating callused skin on a fingertip of a user while simultaneously providing an individual finger and overall hand exerciser. The device forms an exposed upper surface area having a raised ridge or a series of raised ridges extending the length of the upper surface area. Grooves transect each ridge, forming a crest extending perpendicular to the length of the ridge. A series of grooves are provided along the length of the raised ridge and the overall upper surface area simulates a string of a stringed instrument.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a harp formed of a plurality of constituent parts wherein the plurality of constituent parts are produced from composite materials. In accordance with the present invention the composite materials from which the constituent parts are formed are selected from the group consisting of carbon, polyparaphenyleneterephthalamide, glass fibers and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A musical instrument having a body comprising a case and a sound board closing one side of the case and strings stretched on the instruments so as to impart a force on the soundboard, in which the edges of the soundboard are movable relative to the adjacent edges of the case. A ridge is provided on the underside of the soundboard, along its edges, which serves to impart rigidity to the soundboard and is also formed to reflect sound vibrations. The instrument is preferably of the harp type having a neck connected at one end to the upper end of the body, the strings being connected to and stretched between the neck and the soundboard. A post extending from the neck is secured to the soundboard by means of a horizontal strut secured to and extending normal to the bottom end of the post.

Abstract: A concert harp including a mechanism for shortening the vibrating length of the strings for setting the instrument tuned scale up.According to the invention, the stress which is immobilizing a point of string (11) in order to modify the vibrating length thereof is provided by a powered element displaceable perpendicularly to the string along a path intersecting the string substantially at the pinching point, particularly a hydraulic micro-jack (1a, 1b).The invention simplifies the mechanism and provides a silent operation.

Abstract: There is provided a stringed instrument in which an outer peripheral frame surrounds an open area, and in which a sounding board extends across the open area attached to the frame. Anchoring means for strings are centrally located in the open area, and pegs are distributed around the edge of the frame. Strings are provided between the anchoring means and the pegs, and due to the symmetrical nature of the structure, the high tension forces exerted by the strings on the center anchoring means are largely balanced out, so that particularly heavy bracing structure for the anchoring means is not required. The instrument is suitable for being played by a plurality of players, approaching the instrument from several directions, this being a departure from typical stringed instruments which are designed to be played only by one person at a time.